Care for Newcomers

Care for Newcomers, formerly the Central Alberta Refugee Effort (C.A.R.E.), was formed in 1979 by a group of concerned citizens wanting to assist Indochinese refugees fleeing the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The Central Alberta Refugee Effort (C.A.R.E.) became a registered non-profit society a year later. In 1982 it received status as a charitable organization. Since its inception, Care for Newcomers' mission has been to assist immigrants and refugees in integrating and settling into our community. ​Over the years, we have helped tens of thousands of newcomers from all regions of the world. Newcomers include economic Immigrants, people who reunite with their families, international students, temporary residents, and refugees. ​Care for Newcomers provides several services and programs — English for life in Canada, youth settlement, community engagement and bridging, volunteering, employment, intercultural awareness and education, community events, translation, interpretation, and childcare support. Over 60 highly skilled employees are passionate about supporting newcomers in their journey to settle for a successful life in Central Alberta. ​We have established ourselves as a strong community stakeholder in many areas, as we believe it takes an entire community to welcome newcomers and make them feel at home. We partner with many organizations, businesses, and collective impact initiatives. ​We believe in the strength of diversity. Exposure to diversity changes the way people think and ultimately improves innovation, creativity, and problem-solving skills, which makes us smarter. ​Care for Newcomers is actively involved in collective initiatives to build a stronger settlement sector, on local, regional, and national levels. We are a member of AAISA, the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies. ​Through membership in Volunteer Alberta and a local network of non-profit organizations, we help to develop a stronger non-profit sector, needed for strong civic engagement.